Do I have to pay to tryout?

Yes, because we need you to complete waivers and collect your information before tryouts.   

Do I need to register to tryout?

Yes, this way we can collect your information and know you are coming to tryouts.   

How long do tryouts last?

Tryouts are offered each season on designated days/times.  

The actual tryout will last about 5 min per swimmer.  Depending on how many other swimmers are trying out, you may need to wait your turn.  

Show up anytime during the designated tryout days/times.  Your swimmer can warm up or practice for the tryouts.  When they are ready, alert one of the organizers.  

We can't make the designated tryout times.  Can we still join the team?

Yes!  However, your swimmer will still need to tryout to be assigned to a practice group.  Please contact brightleafteamparents@gmail.com to arrange a time.  

What swim skills are needed to join the team?

You do not need to be a fast swimmer in order to join the team, but we do have a minimum skills standard to ensure everyone is safe.   See the SKILLS tab for more information.

What happens at tryouts?

Your swimmer will be asked to perform the skills listed on the SKILLS tab.   The emphasis is on the skill, not speed!  The hardest thing about tryouts is the pool will be cold!  Dress accordingly!  Wetsuits and swim shirts are permitted and encouraged.  

Is there a team uniform?  

Yes, we have a team swim suit and swim cap.  You can find those under the Merchandise tab.

Does my swimmer need to wear the team suit?

• At swim meets, it is customary and recommended to wear the team suit; however, not mandatory!  

• By the meet rules, girl's bathing suits should not have ties.  

• At practice, the swimmers do not need to wear the team suit.

Does my swimmer need to wear the team cap?

• At swim meets, it is customary and recommended to wear the team cap.  Did you know swim caps help keep goggles on when diving?  Did you know caps make you swim faster by reducing drag?  It's true!  However, the biggest reason we ask the swimmers to wear the team cap is so we can tell they are on our team!   

• The meet rules state another team name cannot be worn on a cap during a meet.  

• At practice, they are welcome to wear any cap they like, or no cap at all.  

Does my swimmer need goggles?

We don't mandate goggles, but it's nearly impossible to swim laps without them!    Plus they provide eye protection from the chlorine.  The best pair of goggles are the ones that fit your swimmer.  If you're looking for suggestions, here are a few to pick from on Swim Outlet.

We do not recommend snorkel masks that cover the nose, because they fall off during dive/jump starts, and often during swim (because of the drag from lap swim).  However, they are not forbidden.  

Can I order logo merchandise after registration?

Yes, but we will close merchandise ordering shortly after the first practice.  

Can swimmers switch practice groups during the season?

Generally, no, we ask you to stay in your assigned group for the season.  We balance each practice group to be optimal for the swimmers and coaches.  Typically, all the swimmers in a practice group improve at around the same rate.  That said, every year there are a few swimmers who would do better in a different practice group.  When we see that, we will speak with you directly.  If you think your swimmer would be better in a different group, please raise this with the coaches or parent reps (brightleafteamparents@gmail.com).

Why don't you practice by age group?

We have such a variety of abilities on the team and we found those abilities do not always correspond to age!  When we group practices by skills, it allows everyone in the practice group to work on the same needed skills.  Within the practice groups, we do consider age in lane assignments.

What happens with bad weather?  In summary, if the pool is open, we are swimming!

• Decisions to cancel practice are typically made on-deck during, at the time of, or shortly before swim events.  

  • Coaches make the decision to cancel or end practices early due to weather

  • Check Facebook and GroupMe for updates on practice cancelations due to weather

  • Download the free WeatherBug app on your phone to see if there is lightening in the area  

  • Coaches may choose to do dry-land practice during bad weather

  • Typically, we do not make up canceled practices

  • These guidelines are intended to inform you of our policy, but ultimately, it's your decision to attend or not attend a swim event.  

• We swim - 

  • In rain, as long as we can see the bottom of the pool

  • In cold temperatures.  Swim shirts and wetsuits encouraged for practices.  

  • When the pool is open

• We don't swim - 

  • At the first sight/sound of lightening or thunder, we get out of the pool for 30 minutes

  • When it's raining so hard we can't see the bottom of the pool

  • When the pool is closed by pool management for any reason

How long do meets last?

~2-4 hours. 

How do meets work?

• Swimmers arrive for warm-ups

• Swimmers are able to swim in 3 events (i.e. 3 different strokes).  Their events are determined by the coaches before the meet.

• The meet is organized by stroke, age group, and gender

  • The first event is freestyle, 6 and under age group, girls.  The second event is freestyle, 6 and under age group, boys.  The third event is freestyle, 7-8 age group, girls.  The forth event is freestyle, 7-8 age group, boys.  This pattern repeats itself for entire meet, covering all strokes .  

  • The stroke order is Freestyle, Breast Stroke, Back Stroke, Butterfly, Relay

• Ages 8 and below swim 25 meters/yards (1 length of the pool)

• Ages 9 and up swim 50 meters/yards (2 lengths of the pool)

• Developmental swimmers go before the first event and are assisted in swimming freestyle 1 length of the pool.  They do not swim other strokes.

• Age groups are Boys/Girls 6 & Under, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-18 

How do relays work?

Per DSSL rules:  "The relay will consist of one swimmer representing each of the five following age groups: 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-18. A younger swimmer may swim and represent an older age group but an older swimmer may NOT represent a younger age group. The first two swimmers from 2 of the represented age groups will swim 25 yards; the final three swimmers remaining from the represented age groups will swim 50 yards each. The swimmers may swim in any order regardless of distance and do not have to swim in the order of the age groups they are representing."

At Brightleaf, we have an A and a B team for both girls and boys.  The A team consists of the fastest freestyle swimmers for each age group, as determined by recent prior meet times.  Only A team scores.  The B team is exhibition, and great practice/fun.  It consists of a rotation of swimmers.  We also identify back-ups for the relay because it's possible that someone on the A or B team won't show up to the meet, or will be unable to swim for another reason.  

Clerks of course have a list of the relay swimmers for each meet.  

Can my swimmer leave the meet when they are done?

We ask swimmers stay until the end of the meet to cheer on their teammates.  

Why do parents need to volunteer during meets?

Meets are a fully parent run activity!  Without volunteers, we wouldn't be able to have a meet.  

What are the meet volunteer jobs?

• Official:  Stroke & Turn, Starter, Meet Director ---- these jobs require special pre-season training, but no previous experience

  • Meet Director:  Organize on deck volunteers, execute meet according to DSSL rules.   Must attended pre-season training.

  • Stroke & Turn Official: Observe swimmers and determine if they are following the rules of each stroke.  Must attended pre-season training.

  • Starter:  Over the loud speaker, announce when swimmers will start their events.  Must attended pre-season training.

• Pool Jobs:  Timer, Runner, Place Judge, Clerk of Course, Heat Winner, Water Distributor.  None of these jobs require prior experience.

  • Clerk of Course:  Gets swimmers to the starting blocks on-time.  

  • Place Judge: Records the order of finish for each race.  

  • Timer:  Operates timing device, timing the swimmers in their lane.  

  • Runner:  Moves documents around the pool deck.  

  • Heat Winner:  Gives a prize to the winner of each heat.   

  • Water Distributor: Keeps volunteers hydrated.  

• Administrative Jobs:  Scorer, Ribbon Master, Time Recorder, Statistician, Time Averager. None of these jobs require prior experience.

  • Scorer:  Work with others to determine a score for each event

  • Time Recorder: Input times into a computer using a meet management software

  • Time Averager: Use a calculator to average two times together

  • Ribbon Master:  Ribbon labeling and distribution.  Same person all season, occurs after meets.  Must have a printer at home.  

Where are the meets?  Pool directions

https://www.teamunify.com/recdssl/UserFiles/Image/QuickUpload/directions-to-pools-12-30-19_059457.docx

Junior Swim Coach Benefits

• Leadership and job experience

• Develop swim coaching skills

• Non-profit volunteer hours

• Free registration (swim team fee is waived, effective April 20, 2022 Swimmingly and processing fees not included)

• Free merchandise (t-shirt, silicone cap)

Junior Swim Coach Responsibilities

• Assist the head/assistant swim coaches with practices and swim meets with care and excitement.

• Work to nurture the potential of the swimmers.

• Ensure the safety of swimmers during practice.

• Follow coaches’ instructions for helping swimmers develop their strokes and love of swimming.

• Assist coaches with swimmers during swim meets.

• Lead cheers at swim meets/after practices. 

• Attend a training session prior to assisting with practice.

• Attend all practices which you have volunteered to help.

• Conduct self in a professional, friendly, helpful, courteous, and diplomatic manner.

• Wear proper swim coaching attire. 

• Follow all COVID-19 guidelines in place by The Brightleaf Club.

Junior Swim Coach Requirements

• Age 12+ or rising 9th grade student

• Member of Green (advanced) practice group

• Shows qualities of a role model and leader, enthusiastic about swimming

• Selected by the Parent Reps

Effective April 10, 2022

• Swimmingly and processing fees are non-refundable.  These are administered outside the control of the team.  

• Brightleaf Swim Team fees are refundable up to the end of the first week of practice.  After the first week of practice, swim team fees are non-refundable.

• Tryouts:  Swimmers who are unable to demonstrate the developmental skills, or who simply decide swim team is not for them this season, will have their Brightleaf Swim Team fees refunded.  

• Merchandise:  Merchandise purchases are non-refundable.  

Team Records 

Brightleaf at the Park residents, ages 4 - 18 years old are invited to join the Brightleaf Swim Team!   

You do not need to be a fast swimmer in order to join the team, but we do have a minimum skills standard to ensure everyone is safe.   

See the SKILLS tab for more information.

The Brightleaf Swim Team is only open to Brightleaf residents.

If you don't live in the Brightleaf neighborhood, you can still find a swim team!  

There are other Durham Summer Swim League teams that are open to non-residents.  Historically, these include Parkwood, Woodcroft, Five Oaks, JCC, Hope Valley, etc.  Additionally, in Wake County, but nearby to the Brightleaf neighborhood, check out the Black Horse Run swim team.

The Durham Summer Swim League  (DSSL) is comprised of 17 pools in the greater Durham, NC area. The purpose of the league is to provide a climate of friendly competition where swimmers ages 4-18 can develop a love for the sport, improve their swimming skills and learn the principles of good sportsmanship. Our season begins the first of June and ends mid July. 

The Brightleaf Swim Team is a member of DSSL.

PLAN:  If an athlete is suspected of having a concussion, they will be (a) immediately removed from practice/meet, and (b) athlete will be kept out of practice/meet until they provide written clearance from a licensed physician.  

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CONCUSSION SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS 

Athletes who experience one or more of the signs and symptoms listed below after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body may have a concussion. 

SYMPTOMS REPORTED BY ATHLETE • Headache or “pressure” in head • Nausea or vomiting • Balance problems or dizziness • Double or blurry vision • Sensitivity to light • Sensitivity to noise • Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy • Concentration or memory problems • Confusion • Just not “feeling right” or is “feeling down” 

SIGNS OBSERVED BY COACHING STAFF • Appears dazed or stunned • Is confused about assignment or position • Forgets an instruction • Is unsure of game, score, or opponent • Moves clumsily • Answers questions slowly • Loses consciousness (even briefly) • Shows mood, behavior, or personality changes • Can’t recall events prior to hit or fall 

Source:  https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/pdfs/custom/headsupconcussion_actionplan.pdf